News briefs

Drug, alcohol a factor in Graham Hill death
The California Highway Patrol announced this week that 21-year-old Samuel Chinevere was under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana when he died after driving off the road March 14 in Felton.
Chinevere, of Ben Lomond, was a 2008 graduate of San Lorenzo Valley High School.
He drove off Graham Hill Road in a 2000 Toyota Tacoma at 1:30 a.m. March 14 and ran into a tree.
No one was with him, and the night was rainy.
According to CHP officials, there have been two other marijuana-related traffic fatalities in the past few months in Santa Cruz County.
On Feb. 10, a three-vehicle collision on Highway 129 in Watsonville was caused by a woman under the influence of marijuana. She did not survive.
On March 18, a 35-year-old man who was under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree on Highway 1 at State Park Drive in Aptos. He also died.
“These collisions are particularly tragic,” said Capt. Matt Olson, Santa Cruz CHP commander. “They each cut short the lives of young people with so much ahead of them and left behind devastated families. Sadly, these collisions were completely avoidable. Our hearts go out to their families, and we are doing everything we can to prevent this from happening to others.”
Art, wine fundraiser for resource center
Oak Tree Ristorante in Felton will host a two-day art and wine festival this weekend, including an art raffle, to benefit Mountain Community Resources.
Jewelers, potters, glass artists and painters from the county will have booths, and wine from local wineries will be served.
The fundraiser will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22, at 5447 Highway 9, in Felton.
For information: 335-5551 or http://oaktreeristorante.com.
Directors sought for musical
San Lorenzo Valley High School seeks proposals from aspiring directors for the 2012 winter musical at the school.
Proposal presentations will be heard at 6:30 p.m. May 8, a Tuesday, as part of the SLV High School Drama Boosters meeting at the school’s staff room.
Questions can be directed to Terilynn Bench, Drama Booster president, by email at sl******@***il.com.
For information: http://sites.google.com/a/slvusd.org/drama.
Valley Churches packs 627 Easter baskets
Volunteers and staff of Valley Churches United Missions packed and distributed 627 baskets as part of the nonprofit’s annual Easter project.
The organization put together 286 children’s baskets, containing candy, applesauce, fruit cups, popcorn, juice, chocolate bunnies, stuffed animals, toothbrushes and toothpaste and other small items.
Baskets for adults, of which 341 were distributed, held canned hams, Easter decorations, candy, Pacific Cookie Co. cookies, small stuffed animals, tea and a personal greeting.
In addition, households received bags of food donated through local churches and food drives.
After serving all the local children who were registered for baskets, Valley Churches was able to send 30 baskets to the Davenport Resource Center.
Call for artists
Organizers of the 10th annual Bonny Doon Art & Wine Festival seek artists to participate in the popular event.
The festival will be from 1 to 6 p.m. June 23, a Saturday, at a new venue, Vigne Farms Equestrian Park, 3675 Bonny Doon Road.
Artists who would like to display and sell their art and demonstrate their creative processes can email Nicola Brigham at ni**********@***oo.com.
Sponsorship and ticket information is online at www.bonnydoonartandwinefestival.com.
The event has a minimum age of 21 years and is presented by the Bonny Doon Community School Foundation, a nonprofit that boosts programs at Bonny Doon Elementary School.
New story time starts in Felton
A new story time began last week at the Felton library branch, 6299 Gushee St.
Preschoolers are welcome at the library at 10:15 a.m. Thursdays for stories, songs, crafts and more.
For information: 427-7717 or pr*@*********pl.org
San Agustin makes donations
Donations totaling $6,500 were recently presented by San Agustin Catholic Church to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Walnut Avenue Women’s Center.
The two organizations were the 2011 beneficiaries of the annual San Agustin Angels Auction.
Dave Farrell, the president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and Jennifer O’Brien-Rojo, the executive director of the women’s center, received the money from the Rev. Seamus O’Brien and Auction Committee member Tom Durick.
San Agustin will have its 19th Angels Auction on Nov. 10 at the Hilton in Scotts Valley, 6001 La Madrona Drive. Beneficiaries are yet to be chosen.
Scotts Valley 4-H update
The Scotts Valley 4-H Club will take part in the Sectional Presentation Day on Saturday, April 21. The club will also elect its officers in May.
Upcoming projects include quilting, card-making, beginning dairy goats, cattle and ukulele.
The Santa Cruz County Spring Fair, one of the club’s bigger events of the year, is also approaching. The Scotts Valley club will host a petting zoo and animal fashion show. Members will receive a prize for taking a friend who is not a 4-H’er to the fair.
Julianna McCoy, 4-H Club member, contributed to this report